directement

Forms

directement^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French direct + -ment, the adverb suffix being added to the feminine form.^[2][1][3][4] The adjective direct is from Latin dīrēctus (“straight, in a straight line”), the past participle of dīrigō (“to direct, guide”).^[5]

Compare Occitan directament, Spanish directamente and Italian direttamente.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is from 1414, in the report of an embassy of Gontier Col quoted by Godefroy's Complément, where it means “in a straight line”.^[2] The DHLF thinks it may already have existed in the 14th century.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Beside the spatial sense, the adverb meant “entirely” in Jean Lemaire de Belges (1512);^[2] since 1559, in Amyot, it has meant “immediately, without an intermediary”, the sense that matches the abstract “direct, immediate” of the adjective.^[2][5] Amyot also has it of the earth lying directement entre elle et le soleil “directly between the moon and the sun”.^[4]

The GLLF dates the senses “by the shortest way”, “inevitably” and “frankly, without detour” to the Larousse of 1870.^[6] In modern French it mainly means “straight to a place” and “without anyone in between”, and in a weakened use “exactly, personally” (ces questions ne m'intéressent pas directement, Teilhard de Chardin).^[7][2]

Timeline

• 1414 – First record, “in a straight line”.^[2]
• 1425 – An Anglo-Norman record has the sense “directly”.^[8]
• 1512 – Jean Lemaire de Belges uses it for “entirely”.^[2]
• 1559 – Amyot uses it for “immediately, without an intermediary”.^[2][5]
• 1870 – The Larousse records the senses “by the shortest way” and “frankly”.^[6]

Meanings

Adverb

1. In a straight line, straight to a place, without a detour: Après le cours, elle rentre directement à la maison.^[7][6][4]
2. Without an intermediary: Il achète ses légumes directement au maraîcher.^[7][6][2]
3. (figurative) Inevitably, by a direct consequence: Ce choix mène directement à la faillite.^[6]
4. Frankly, without hedging: répondre directement.^[6]
5. Exactly, personally; with a negative, “not really, not as such”: Ce règlement ne le concerne pas directement.^[2][7]
6. (dated) Immediately, at once.^[2]

Related words

• direct
• indirectement
• Latin dīrēctus

Usage notes

The opposite is indirectement.^[7]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)